Home shopping season is just about here and home sellers are busy cleaning, painting, de cluttering, landscaping and deciding which other projects might reap the greatest reward given limited time and money.

The best option, once the curb appeal projects are done is to tackle the bathrooms according to a recent report by Zillow.

The key is making smart decisions about what to upgrade, because home-improvement projects don’t necessarily pay for themselves and some improvements actually cost more than they return in value.   A good rule of thumb to follow is a smaller and inexpensive upgrade typically brings a bigger reward than a more involved and time-consuming project.

 “Do” list for sellers:

  • Dive into the “curb appeal” projects first.  New paint inside and out and basic landscaping and yard are typically the most common and necessary improvements.  Keep in mind choosing the right eye-catching colors can increase a home’s value as well. The report found that yellow homes sell for nearly $3,500 less than expected, while the right color door can lead to an extra $6,000 in a seller’s pocket.
  • Upgrade the bathrooms for a good boost in home value.   A mid-range bathroom remodel including replacing the toilet, tub and light fixtures, adding a double sink, tiling the floor and hanging some wallpaper will give you the most bang for your buck.
  • Install new windows, but get too fancy and you’ll end up breaking even.
  • Pay attention to current design trends as the right design can show buyers the potential in your home.  Warm modernism and organic accents are in, bold colors and an overtly rustic feel are out.

Important “No Nos” for sellers:

  • Don’t Focus on the kitchen at any level as its among the worst return on investment of the home improvements at about 50 cents on the dollar.  The kitchen is one of the few rooms in a house where different people want different utility.  A new kitchen could easily cost you $30,000 only to turn off some potential buyers who would have done it differently.
  • Don’t bother with the basement.  The only renovation we studied that paid off worse than a kitchen remodel was finishing a basement, at a bit less than 50 cents on the dollar, even if you add a bathroom.

Click here to see some construction cost calculators to help you decide on what to do in your home before you sell.

Article Content Credit – Seeking Alpha